Christmas Cheese Log Recipes

CHRISTMAS APPETISER: ITALIAN CHEESE LOAF

Steps:

• Spray a loaf pan with oil then line with cling wrap with overhang.
• Mix Cheese Log ingredients together. Taste and adjust salt if needed (bear in mind saltiness of crackers you are serving with).
• Scrape into loaf pan and level surface, pressing to remove air pockets. Smaller pan = taller loaf.
• Cover with cling wrap overhang and refrigerate for 4 hours+ (up to 1 week).
• Turn out onto platter, peel off cling wrap.
• Top with sun dried tomato and pour over oil. Garnish with parsley and rosemary sprigs to give it a festive look.
• Best to serve closer to room temp than fridge cold. Serve with crackers! Knives for smearing optional - it's soft enough to scoop with crackers.

CHRISTMAS TREE CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Add the cream cheese, Cheddar, cayenne, Worcestershire, scallions, lemon juice and some salt and pepper to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is almost smooth; you still want a few bits of cheese in there. Remove with a rubber spatula to a piece of plastic wrap and wrap up the cheese mixture. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Shape the cheese mixture with your hands into a Christmas tree/cone using the plastic wrap to keep it together. Mix the chopped parsley and dill together on a plate or work surface. Coat the shaped cheese in the chopped herbs.
• Transfer the cheese tree to the center of a platter. Decorate with the pomegranate seeds as ornaments. Serve with buttery crackers.

CHRISTMAS CHEESE LOG

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F and place the nuts on a baking tray.
• Bake for 8 minutes (keep a close eye on them around this time as they can burn quickly) and remove from the oven. Chop the nuts coarsley (or use a food processor) and set aside.
• Using a stand or hand mixer (or a bowl and wooden spoon) combine the softened cream cheese and feta. Add all remaining ingredients except for the nuts and combine.
• Cut a large piece of baking paper and place on the bench. Tip the cheese mixture onto the baking paper and form it into a log shape. Roll it up in the baking paper, shaping as you go, tuck in the ends of the paper and place in the fridge for 3 hours (or longer) to set.
• Once the cheese log has set, remove from the fridge. Spread the chopped nuts on a rimmed baking tray, carefully unwrap the log and roll it in the chopped nuts until it is completely coated.
• Serve on a platter with crackers and toasted bread or wrap tightly in gladwrap and store in the fridge for up to a few days until needed.

GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS CHEESE LOGS

Steps:

• Have all ingredients at room temperature.
• Mix all ingredients except chili powder with an electric mixer.
• Form into 2 or 3 logs.
• Roll in chili powder to coat.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• Slice and serve on assorted crackers.

CHRISTMAS LOG

Steps:

• Crumble the Swiss roll into the bowl and add the biscuit crumbs, jam, orange juice and dried fruit and mix together with your hands.
• Place the mixture on a board and shape into a roll about the size of the original Swiss roll, wrap in cling film and put in the fridge.
• Using a potato peeler, scrape about 15g chocolate into shreds on to a plate.
• Break the remaining chocolate pieces and put in a small bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted, or melt in the microwave.
• Beat the butter, then beat in the coated but still melted chocolate
• Unwrap the log, and using a knife, spread with the icing, use a fork to make it look like tree bark and dust with icing sugar to resemble snow.
• Put on a plate and sprinkle with chocolate shreds.
• If liked, make fondant icing mushrooms and dip the heads into cocoa powder, then colour some fondant icing green and cut out leaves.